Labour MP challenges ministers to trigger leadership contest as PM vows to fight on – UK politics live
Bridget Phillipson says leadership ultimatum from the Labour backbencher Catherine West is ‘completely wrong’
AI Summary
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has insisted he will not resign following Labour's poor performance in recent elections, while former junior minister Catherine West has announced she will trigger a leadership contest unless a cabinet minister challenges him by the next morning. West would need support from 81 Labour MPs to force a contest, though she lacks evidence of sufficient backing; however, nearly 40 Labour MPs have publicly called for Starmer's replacement since the elections. Many MPs on the party's soft left hope for Starmer to step down in the medium term to allow Andy Burnham time to enter parliament before running for leader, though West's attempt to accelerate the process is seen as potentially beneficial to rivals like Health Secretary Wes Streeting and former Deputy PM Angela Rayner.